Scientific opinion on the risks and health protection of exotic and valuable animals from the collection of OP 'Zoo - Sofia' from infection with the virus of acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pathogenic agent that causes COVID-19 infection in humans and providing access to the closed exposition parts of the zoo collection
| Autor: | Prof Georgi Georgiev, Assoc. prof. Iliyan Kostov, Dr. Madlen Vasileva |
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| Jazyk: | bulharština |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: | |
| DOI: | 10.5281/zenodo.5159046 |
| Popis: | The Risk Assessment Center on Food Chain (RACFCH) was asked to prepare an opinion on the risks associated with the protection of the health of exotic and valuable animals from the collection of Sofa Zoo from infection with acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS) -CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infection is not included in the OIE List of Diseases. However, in accordance with the reporting obligations in Article 1.1.4. of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code relating to the new emerging diseases, the OIE must be notified of the disease through the World Animal Health Information System - WAHIS. Recent experimental studies show that many mammals species, including cats, dogs, voles, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, minks, pigs, rabbits, raccoon dogs and white-tailed deer, can be infected with the virus. The cats, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, raccoons and white-tailed deer can also spread the infection to other animals of the same species in the laboratory. A number of studies have examined primates as models for human infection. Rhesus macaques, Javanese macaques, baboons, griffon vultures and common marmosets can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and become ill in the laboratory. The animals in zoos are subject to veterinary care, including ongoing monitoring of infectious diseases. For some specific species, screening for some coronaviruses is already part of the requirement to enter new specimens (eg FIP in some Felidae) or to be tested when any clinical signs are observed (eg diarrhea in young individuals). The ecological, sanitary and welfare conditions in zoos can in no way be compared to the conditions in the wildlife markets. The zoos apply standard hygiene and sanitary practices, excellent breeding conditions adapted to the needs of the animal species, and daily monitoring of all animals in care. In any case, a full species-based risk assessment of Covid-19 should be performed for each contact with animals, with input from breeders and veterinary teams, as appropriate. The risk of infection should be assessed in both directions: from the human (staff and visitors) to the animal and from the animal to the human. Probably some taxons and species are at higher risk of infection than others. For those species that are currently considered less susceptible (eg birds, fish and reptiles), the standard zoo policies already in force should apply, along with additional steps to mitigate Covid-19 infection in terms of public administration, as in any other building at the zoo. Particular attention should be paid to those higher-risk animal species that are known to be susceptible or likely to be susceptible due to genetic proximity to humans, ie. Chiroptera, felids (and other carnivores), ungulates, mustelids and primates. The Covid-19 risk assessments for these groups should include consideration of additional protocols to support animal health and biosecurity, which should be introduced in addition to the public management protocols for Covid-19 infection. The public access to these high-risk species must be linked to regional levels of circulating virus, and if the regional level of risk and restrictions increases, then the access to the high-risk species must also be prevented. On the other hand, in smaller countries such as Bulgaria, the trend of the COVID-19 epidemic is better seen and assessed on a weekly basis. The percentage of positive tests for COVID-19 diagnosed on a weekly basis is currently slowly increasing to 1.5% from 0.7% and 0.5% from the previous weeks of July 2021. In addition, we know yet very little about the COVID-19 infection and it is difficult to predict what will happen. The hypothesis, according to epidemiologists, is that we are facing growth similar to that in the autumn of 2020, and the question is whether growth will be limited to about 1500-1600 cases per week, as it was then or will be higher. On the one hand, we now have about 1 million of the population vaccinated with two doses, 400,000 cured, probably at least another 1-1.5 million who have gone through COVID - 19 infections without being registered. On the other hand, we have several times more contagious "delta" version of COVID - 19 viruses compared to last year. The target groups are expected to be young people (12-18 years old) and people over 60 years. They are also the least covered by the vaccination campaign, but they are also the most frequent visitors to the zoo in terms of family habit (grandparents, grandchildren). Therefore, the experts of the RACFCH believe that the risks associated with the protection of the health of the exotic and valuable animals situated on the territory of the Sofia Zoo should continue and does not recommend their opening for use at the moment. BG; docx; EFSAfocalpoint@mzh.government.bg |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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